Two of the best international soccer teams ever will meet in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup in Dallas on Tuesday afternoon.
France, led by Kylian Mbappe and longtime manager Didier Deschamps, is looking to secure their third straight World Cup final and capture their second title in that span.
Spain, the champions of Europe and currently riding a 36-match unbeaten streak, haven’t been to the World Cup Final since 2010, when they captured their only Jules Rimet Trophy.
The stage is set for a monumental match at JerryWorld on Tuesday afternoon, and I think two under-the-radar stars are worth backing to rise to the occasion.
Best prop bets for Spain vs. France
Michael Olise to score a goal (+350, DraftKings)
Kylian Mbappe is the star of the show for France, but Michael Olise is the straw that stirs the drink for Les Bleus.
Olise leads the tournament with five assists, and only one player (Lionel Messi) has created more big scoring chances for his team this World Cup, but it’s not his playmaking I want to back on Tuesday. It’s his finishing.
While he’ll always be a creator more than a scorer, Olise can find the back of the net. The 24-year-old scored 20 times in 45 matches for Bayern Munich across the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.
France has so many dynamic attackers, but Spain will likely build its Plan A around stopping Mbappe, which should allow Olise some more freedom to operate.
Marc Cucurella to record an assist (10/1, DraftKings)
Spain’s attack has been underwhelming for large chunks of this tournament, but Marc Cucurella has done his bit on the left flank for La Furia Roja.
With Lamine Yamal struggling to make an impact, and Nico Williams fighting through injury, the Spaniards have had to rely on getting balls out wide to their fullbacks, who are constantly making dangerous runs to get themselves in position to get the ball into the box.
Cucurella has played that role superbly, and is the only player on Spain with more than one assist in this tournament. That’s hard to believe.
France will have a keen eye on Yamal on the right side, so Spain could find some space and joy down the opposite flank with Cucurella, and I like the price on the well-coiffed left back to create scoring chances with crosses and cutbacks into the box.
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
